Extrusion apparatus with means for incorporating liquid substances into thermoplastic resins



A g- 1965 A. A. AYKANIAN ETAL 7 EXTRUSION APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR INCORPORATING LIQUID SUBSTANCES INTO THERMOPLASTIC RESINS Original Filed June 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARDASHUS A. AYKANIAN EDGAR E. HARDY IN VEN TORS BY W GEOR GE. A. LATINEN ATTO N Y.

10, 1955 A. A. AYKANIAN ETAL 3,199,147

EXTHUSION APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR INCORPORATING LIQUID SUBSTANCES INTO THERMOPLASTIC RESINS Original Filed June 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARDASHUS A- AYKAN IAN EDGAR 5-. HARDY GEO F? GE A. LATINL N INVENTORS Bi wg A T T O R N EY g 1955 A. A. AYKANIAN ETAL 3,199,147 EXTRUSION APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR INCORPORATING LIQUID SUBSTANCES INTO THERMOPLASTIC RESINS Original Filed June 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ARDASHUS A. AVKANIAN EDGAR E.HARDY cacao: A.LATINN waw ATTORNEY g- 1965 A. A. AYKANIAN ETAL 3, 9 ,147

EXTRUSION APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR INCORPURATING LIQUID SUBSTANCES INTO THERMOPLASTIC RESINS Original Filed June 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ARDASHUS A. AYKAN/AN EDGAR E. HARDY GEORGE A. LATINN INVENTORS.

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ATTORNE United States Patent EXTRUSEQN APPARATUS WITH hi'lAh-lii IN- QCDRPQRATING LlQilli) SUESTANQES llNTt) THERMQFLASTifi REdlNS Ardashus A. Ayicmian, Wilhraham, Edgar E. Hardy, Longmeadow, and George A. Latinen, Wiibrfiarn, Mass, assignors to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application June 2, i961, Ser. No. lldfitil, now Patent No. snsasss, dated Dec. 8, 1964. Divided and this application Feb. 5, 1964-, Ser. No. 342,764

4 Claims. till. lid-12) This application is a division of co-pending applica tion Serial No. 114,401, filed June 2, 1961, now Patent No. 3,160,688.

This invention relates to an apparatus for incorporating liquid substances into thermoplastic resins. In particular, the invention is concerned wtih an apparatus for simultaneously incorporating a normally liquid foaming agent into a thermoplastic resin and extruding the resulting foamable resin composition.

Most thermoplastic resins, before being fabricated into their utliinately used form, are compounded with other materials such as plasticizers, pigments, antioxidants, fiame-retarding agents, foaming agents and the like. In preparing such resin compositions, it is common practice to admix the components and then pass them through an extruder in which the resin is melted and the other components are uniformly dispersed throughout the melted resin. This method is not well adapted for incorporating liquid substances into thermoplastic resins as liquids tend to interfere with the efficient feeding of the resin particles into the extruder.

It has been proposed that the aforementioned ditficulties be overcome by injecting liquid substances into the melted thermoplastic resin within the extruder. This proposal has not achieved wide success for at least two reasons. First, the liquid substance that is injected into the melted thermoplastic resin tends not to be uniformly dispersed therethrough. Second, the melted thermoplastic resin tends to plug the opening through which the liquid substance is injected into the extruder.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for injecting liquid substances into a melted thermoplastic resin within an extruder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for injecting a volatile liquid foaming agent into a melted thermoplastic resin within an eX- truder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for extruding foamed thermoplastic resins and particularly foamed styrene polymers in which the thermoplastic resin is fed to an extruder and a volatile liquid foaming agent is injected into the melted resin within the extruder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the liquid injection means illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, partially in section, taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3, but illustrates an alternate embodiment of means for injecting liquid into the melted resin; and

FIG. 5 is a view, partially in section, of a modified nozzle that can be employed in liquid injection means of the general type illustrated in FIG. 2.

lidhddil Patented Aug. 19, 1%55 The apparatus of this invention consists of a novel combination of an extruder of modified construction and means for injecting a liquid substance into the melted resin within the extruder. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the injection means provided is capable of injecting a liquid into the melted resin at a high pressure and is so constructed as to prevent the flow of melted resin into the orifice through which the liquid is injected into the resin.

The attached drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention in which a liquid foaming agent is injected into a melted resin and the resulting composition is extruded as a blown foamed resin film.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus consists of an extruder 1! which includes a feed hopper ii, a barrel which consists of sections 12, 12a and 1219, which are held together by bolts not shown, a cylindrical chamber 14 provided in the barrel, and a screw 15. As illustrated, extruder 19 is divided into 3 functional zones, viz., a plasticating zone designated as A, an injection zone designated as B, and a diitusion and cooling zone designated as C.

In Zone A, barrel section 12 includes a chamber 29 through which heat transfer fluid can be circulated by means not shown. Screw 15 is provided with a helical land 16 and, as viewed from left to right, has a root which uniformly increases in diameter until it reaches a maximum at 18. After reaching a maximum at 18, the root diameter of screw to decreases rapidly to form a shoulder 22 and then remains constant throughout Zone B.

in Zone B, four series of axially aligned scraper plates or fingers 2s, 26a, 26b; 28, 28a, 28b; 3%, 30a, Sill); and 32, 32a, 32!) (not shown in FIG. 1, only 32 shown in FIG. 3) are symmetrically disposed about and mounted on screw E5. The series of scraper plates 28, 28a, 28b and 32, 32a, 3212 are displaced slightly in an axial direction from the corresponding series of scraper plates 26, 26a, 26b and 3t 30a, 3%. As thus positioned, scraper plates 28 and 32. (not shown) are transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between scraper plates as and 26a, and 3t) and 3%. In a like manner scraper plates 23:; and 32a (not shown) are transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between scraper plates 26a and 26b, and 3% and Fillb; scraper plates 26a and 36a are transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between scraper plates 23 and 28a and 32 and 32a (neither shown in FIG. 1); and 26b and 3431) are transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between scraper plates 28:: and 28!), and 32a and 3212 (neither shown in FIG. 1). Also provided in Zone B are a series of liquid injectors 3d3-i which are radially disposed about barrel section 12b and mounted in inserts 13-13 provided therein. The detailed construction of liquid injectors 34-34 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and will be subsequently described.

In Zone C, screw 15 is provided with a helical land 36 and is shown as having a constant root diameter. In actual practice it is preferred that the root diameter of screw 15 in the fore section of Zone C (i.e., adjacent to Zone B) be slightly larger than the root diameter in Zone B and then decrease in diameter in the aft section of Zone C. Barrel section 1212 is provided with two separate chambers 33 and 3841 through which separate heat transfer fluids can be circulated by means not shown.

A blow film die 4% of conventional construction is attached to the delivery end of barrel section 1212 by fastening means not shown. Die id includes an annular passage 41 and a centrally located mandrel 42. which contains an air passage 43. A blow pipe 44 is providedto deliver air to passage 43.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of liquid injectors by a shoulder 59 which rests upon an internal seat 71.

Body member 81 of nozzle holder 89 is threadedly mounted in cap nut 74 so that its face 82 urges nozzle 5% into its seated position. Face 82 of body member 81 and face 57 of nozzle 50 are machined to close tolerances so that no gasket is required therebetween.

Nozzle 5t includes a face 51 (which functions as an integral part of the wall of chamber 14) and a liquid chamber 52 which terminates in a valve seat 54. A discharge orifice 56 provides communication between chamber 52 of nozzle and chamber 14 of the extruder. A liquid passage 53 is included in nozzle to deliver liquid to chamber 52.

A valve (shown in an open position) is fitted into chamber 52 and includes a body section 60, a stem 62, a frustroconical face 63, a cylindrical extension 64, a frustroconical valve face66 and a cylindrical pin 63.

Body section 6%? is machined to a close tolerance so that it can slide within and yet seal the upper section of chamber 52. Similarly, valve face 66 is machined to a close tolerance so that the lower section of chamber 52 is sealed when valve 6% is dropped into its closed position.

Nozzle holder 86 consists of a body member 81, a spring compression cap 1% and a bonnet 106. Body member 81 includes a liquid passage 84 which communicates with liquid passage 58 of nozzle 50 and terminates in a seat 85. Also communicating with liquid passage 84 is a high pressure fiuid line 86 which terminates in a frustroconical face 37. Face 87 is urged into sealed relationship with seat $5 by means of a washer 83 and a threaded cap 89. Body member 81 also contains a'central cylindrical channel 92 in which a spindle 94 is slideably mounted. A cylindrical recess provided in the bottom of spindle 94 engages valve stem 62 while the top of spindle 94 fits into a cylindrical recess included in the bottom of spring retainer 96. Body member 81 also contains a larger cylindrical channel 95 which communicates with channel 92. A first spring retainer d6, a spring 97 and a second spring retainer 98 are seated in chamber 95. A threaded spring compression cap 160 is screwed into threads provided in the upper internal wall of chamber 95 and compresses spring 9'7. An adjusting screw 1452 is mounted in a threaded tap provided in the top of cap ltit) and is used to regulate the compressive force applied to spring 97. A lock nut Hi4 securely maintains the desired setting of screw 102. A bonnet 1% is threadably mounted upon and covers spring compression cap 1%. A gasket 168 is included between the bottom face of bonnet 166 and the top face of body member 81 to provide a fiuid tight seal for chamber 95. A liquid passage 11@ is provided in body member 81 and communicates with chamber 95. A line 112 is screwed into the end of liquid passage tilt and bleeds off any liquid which flows into chamber 95.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, thermoplastic resin particles are fed from hopper 11 directly into chamber 14. To maintain clarity of illustration, however, the resin is not shown in chamber 14 until it passes the tip of screw 15. The resin particles are advanced through Zone A by land 16. As the resin is advanced through chamber 14 it is melted (by means of both the heat transfer fluid circulated through chamber 20 and the frictional heat generated within the chamber) and is placed under substantial pressure as the volume of chamber 14 decreases as the root diameter of screw 15 increases. As is known, the force applied upon the melted resin in Zone A is applied primarily in a direction axial d with screw 15. The resin temperature and pressure in Zone A reach a maximum as the resin passes 18.

As the melted resin passes 18 it flows into injection Zone B and its pressure drops substantially as the volume of chamber 14 increases as the root diameter of screw 15 decreases. In Zone B the melted resin is subjected to no mechanical force applied in a direction axial with screw 15. The sole force advancing the melted resin through. Zone B is the pressure drop from the end of Zone A to the beginning of Zone C. In contrast to the modest axial forces applied upon the melted resin in Zone B, substantial forces transverse to screw 15 are applied upon the resin by scraper plates 26, 26a, 26b, 28, 28a, 2815, 3d, 3%, 36b, 32, 32a, and 3212. As a result of the forces applied in Zone B, the flow pattern of the V melted resin is substantially as shown by the fiowlines indicated in FIG. 1. This flow pattern brings about substantial mixing of the melted resin, which mixing is greatly facilitated by the high temperature and low viscosity of the resin. A liquid foaming agent such as pentane enters chamber 14 through orifices sees of liquid injectors 34-34 and is rapidly and homogeneously dispersed throughout the melted resin. The detailed operation. of the liquid injectors 34-34 will be subsequently described.

The melted resin as it enters Zone C is at a high temperature and has a liquid foaming agent homogeneously dispersed therethrough. To further assure uniform diffusion of the foaming agent throughout the melted resin, the resin is heated in the fore section of Zone C by circulating a heated fluid through chamber 38. As the resin is advanced through the aft section of Zone C, its temper ature is lowered by circulating a coolant through cham ber 38a. In addition, the pressure on the resin in Zone C is increased due to the restrictive action of the die.

After leaving Zone C the melted resin enters die 4% and is extruded through passage 41 as a seamless tube 45. The tube is delivered to downstream pinch rolls (not shown) and air is blown into the pinched tube 45 through line 44 to expand tube 45 into a large bubble.

The method of introducing foaming agent into the melted resin is illustrated in FIG. 2. A foaming agent such as pentane is fed into line 86 (by a pump not shown) at a pressure higher than the pressure on the resin in Zone vB. The foaming agent then passes through liquid passage 84, liquid passage 58 and enters liquid chamber 5'2. The foaming agent exerts pressure on the frustroconical face 63 of valve body (it? and urges the valve into the open position shown in FIG. 2. The foaming agent then passes through orifice 56 and enters chamber 14 of the extruder.

To stop the flow of foaming agent into chamber 14 it is only necessary to reduce the pressure on the foaming agent to below the preset compressive force of spring 97. The spring 97, acting through spring retainer 96 and spindle 94, urges valve body 66 into its closed position. In its closed position, the frustroconical valve face 66 seals itself against valve seat 54 and cylindrical pin 68 rests in orifice 56. In practice, the foaming agent can be fed conveniently into the liquid injector 34 by means of a piston driven pump in which the pressure oscillates between 0 and its maximum value. The compressive force of spring 97 is set well above the resin pressure in Zone B so that orifice 56 is sealed at all times except when the liquid foaming agent is flowing into chamber 14. This action prevents the resin from flowing into chamber 52 and plugging the liquid injecting means.

From the paragraph above, it will be seen that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid foaming agent is not injected into the melted resin in a steady stream, but rather in intermittent or pulsating surges. In addition, the pressure differential forcing the liquid foaming agent into the melted resin will vary as the valve is alternately opening and closing. The net effect of this action will be to inject the liquid foaming agent to.

different depths in different sections of the melted resin. As the liquid foaming agent from any individual site tends to diffuse equally in all directions, this injection pattern tends to assist in attaining a uniform distribution of the liquid foaming agent throughout the melted resin.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of means that may be used for injecting foaming agent into the extruder. These means comprise a foaming agent injector 134 which is held in insert 13 by means of bolts 172-172. A central chamber 175 is provided in forum ing agent injector 134 and includes a bottom face 176. Bottom face 176 is fabricated from sintered metal and is permeable to a liquid foaming agent above a preselected pressure, e.g., 2,000 psi. Liquid foaming agent is delivered to chamber 175 through line 178 by a pump not shown.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified version of a nozzle that can be employed in the liquid injection means 34 illustrated in FIG. 2. Nozzle 150 includes a face 151 (which functions as an integral part of the wall of the extruder), a liquid chamber 152, an orifice 153 which provides communication between chamber 152 of nozzle 150 and the chamber of the extruder, and a frustroconical valve seat 154. A liquid passage 153 is included in nozzle 150 to deliver fluid to chamber 152.

A valve (shown in open position) is slideably mounted in nozzle 150 and seals the upper section of chamber 152. The valve includes a body section 160, a stern 162, a cylindrical extension 163 and a frustroconical valve face 164 which is attached to the end of cylindrical extension 163. Valve face 164- and valve seat 154 are machined to close tolerances so that the nozzle is sealed when valve 165 is raised into its closed position. Valve stem 162 is operatively attached to a spring in a manner analogous to that illustrated in FIG. 2 except that the spring is under tension to urge valve face 164 into seated engagement with valve seat 154.

In operation, the valve is normally held in a closed position by the tension of the spring. A foaming agent such as pentane is fed into liquid chamber 152 through line 158. The liquid in chamber 152 bears upon valve face 164 and forces the valve into the opened position shown when the liquid pressure in chamber 152 exceeds the preset pressure of the spring. To stop the flow of the foaming agent into chamber 14, it is only necessary to reduce the pressure of the foaming agent in chamber 152 to below the preset tension force of the spring.

The following examples are set forth to illustrate more clearly the principle and practice of this invention to those skilled in the art.

Example I i A blown film of foamed polystyrene is prepared employing an apparatus of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. Chamber 14 is 2.5 inches in diameter and has an overall length of 100 inches. Zone A is inches long, Zone B is 8 inches long and Zone C is 42 inches long.

In Zone A, land 16 has a constant pitch and the first 7.5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 1.76, the second 5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter which increases uniformly from 1.76" to 2.16" and the third 7.5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 2.16.

In Zone B, screw 15 has a root diameter of 1.75 inches. Four series of scraper plates are provided on screw 15, each of said series containing 8 scraper plates. The length, in an axial direction, of each scraper plate is 0.5 inch and the passage ways provided between adjacent scraper plates are 0.19 inch in length.

In Zone C, land 35 has a constant pitch and the first 7 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 2.25 inches and the final 10 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 2.00 inches. Chamber 3% is approximately 17 inches in length, and chamber 38a is approximately 25 inches in length.

Styrene homopolymer particles (approximately 20 resh) that are admixed with 1% of finely-divided calcium silicate are fed into the extruder from hopper 11 at a rate of 117 lbs/hr. The melted styrene homopolymer as it passes 18 is at a temperature of about 390 F. and under a pressure of about 2500 psi. Immediately after it enters Zone B the pressure on the resin drops to about 1500 psi. and pentane is injected into the melted styrene homopolymer at a pressure of about 2500 psi. and at a rate of about 8 lbs/hr. When the styrene homopolymer enters Zone C its temperature is about 390 F. and its pressure is about 1300 psi. The styrene homopolymer is maintained at a temperature of approximately 390 F. throughout the first 17 inches of Zone C by circulating hot oil through chamber 38 and is then cooled to a temperature of about 295 F. in the final 25 inch section of Zone C by circulating a coolant through chamber 38a. The pressure on the styrene homopolymer as it leaves Zone C is about 2500 p.s.i. The styrene homopolymer passes through a screen and breaker plate assembly not shown in FIG. 1 and enters die 40 at a pressure of about 1500 psi. A blown foamed polystyrene film is obtained at a rate of about 125 lbs/hr. The film has a density of about 6 lbs/ft. and a majority of the cells thereof have diameters of less than about 0.01 inch. The film has a uniform density throughout its mass.

Comparable results are obtained in the above example when the pentane foaming agent is replaced with, respectively, n-butane, dichlorodifluoromethane or a pentane-liquid carbon dioxide mixture (in a /5 weight ratio).

Example H An unfoarned sheet of polystyrene having 5% of his- (2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate incorporated therein is prepared employing an apparatus identical with that described in Example I except that (a) the blow film die is replaced with a sheet die of conventional construction and (b) in Zone A the screw is modified so that the first 7.5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 1.90" the second 5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter which uniformly increases from 1.90" to 2.30" and the third 7.5 L/D section of screw 15 has a root diameter of 2.30".

Styrene homopolymer particles (approximately 20 mesh) are fed into the extruder from hopper 11 at a rate of about lbs/hr. The melted styrene homopolymer as it passes 18 is at a temperature of about 425 F. and under a pressure of about 2200 psi. In Zone B, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate is injected into the melted styrene homopolymer at a pressure of about 2800 p.s.i. and at a rate or" about 6.3 lbs/hr. When the styrene homopolymer enters Zone C its temperature is about 425 F. and its pressure is about 1300 psi. The styrene homopolyrner is maintained at a temperature of approximately 425 F. throughout Zone C by circulating hot oil through chambers 38 and 38a. The pressure on the styrene homopolymer as it leaves Zone C is about 2500 p.s.i. The styrene homopolymer passes through a screen and breaker plate assembly not shown in FIG. 1 and enters the sheet die at a pressure of about 1500 p.s.i. A polystyrene sheet is obtained at a rate of about lbs/hr. The tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate is uniformly dispersed throughout the polystyrene sheet.

The extrusion apparatus of the invention is a single screw extruder which contains three separate functional zones or sections. The first or plasticating zone of the extruder melts and delivers the melted resin to the second zone at a high temperature and pressure. The structure and design of the screw in the first zone may take a Wide variety of forms, but typically consists of a constant pitch screw which increases in root diameter in the downstream direction. Heating means are usually included in the first zone to assist in melting the resin. If desired, the first zone may consist of two elements, as for V plugging the orifice of the injection means.

'7 example, by having a plasticizing extruder arranged in tandem with the feed zone of a second extruder and delivering melted resin thereto.

The second or injection zone of the extruder differs significantly in structure from extruders previously known in the art. In the second zone the screw does not contain a land, but rather a plurality of series of aligned scraper plates or fingers. Each such series contains a plurality of scraper plates (typically three or more) which are closely positioned to each other, but which provide passage ways therebetween. Preferably, the axial length of the individual scraper plates is greater than the width of the passage Ways provided between the scraper plates.

The several series of scraper plates (a minimum of three and preferably four or more) are symmetrically disposed about the screw. Each series is displaced slightly in an axial direction from the two adjacent series so that its scraper plates are transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between the scraper plates of the adjacent series. As thus arranged, the scraper plates impart a substantial shearing and mixing action to the melted resin.

The resin contacting faces of the scraper plates are preferably aligned substantially with the axis of the screw, although in some cases it is possible to align the scraper plates at not more than a angle from the axis of the screw. A clearance of the order of a few thousandths of an inch is normally provided between the tips of the scraper plates and the chamber wall.

Means are included in the second zone for injecting a liquid into the melted resin at a controlled rate. It is preferred to employ a plurality of such injection means and to have them symmetrically disposed about the chamber wall. The injection means employed must be capable of delivering the liquid into the extrusion apparatus at a pressure in excess of the pressure developed within the melted resin. Preferably, the injection means should be capable of delivering the liquid to the extruder at a pressure substantially higher than the pressure of the melted resin, e.g., at a pressure of at least about 500 psi. higher than the pressure of the melted resin.

It is desirable for the liquid injection means to include an element adapted to seal the liquid delivery orifice when liquid is not being injected into the melted resin. This feature prevents the melted resin from flowing into and The sealing element preferably consists of (a) a discharge orifice Whose feed inlet terminates in a valve face, (b) a co operatively functioning valve which is adapted to seat against and seal the valve face of the orifice,'(c) a first and fixed pressure means acting upon and urging the valve into seated relationship with the valve face, and (d) a second pressure means acting upon the valve and urging it out of seated relationship with the valve face; said second pressure means being responsive to and actuated by the pressure of the liquid within the injection means. To prevent melted resin from flowing into the injection means, the fixed pressure means urging the valve to seat against the seal the valve face should be preset to a pressure above that developed within the resin in the second zone of the extruder. The liquid injection means illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 represent the best means presoperational features.

The third zone of the extruder performs two functions. First, the pressure on the melted resin is increased to the level required to express the resin through the die. Second, the melted resin is cooled (or in some circumstances heated) to substantially the temperature at which it will leave the die. To properly cool (or heat) the resin, at least the aft section of the third zone should include external heat transfer means. Depending upon the length of the second zone of the extrusion apparatus, it is sometimes desirable to maintain the mixture of melted resin and liquid at a relatively high temperature in the fore ently known for achieving this desirable combination of developed within the resin.

8 section of thethird zone. In this event, external heating means may be provided to heat the chamber wall of the fore section of the third zone. In addition, the root diameter of the screw may be increased in the fore section of the third zone so that friction heat will be In this event, however, the root diameter is preferably subsequently decreased in the aft section of the third zone.

The die afiixed to the extrusion apparatus maybe of any design presently used in extruding thermoplastic resins. Scores of suitable dies are known and reported in the art.

The above descriptions and particularly the examples and drawings are set forth for purposes of illustration only. Many variations and modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein described.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a single screw extruder, 1) an elongated, cylindrical chamber having associated therewith a die affixed to the discharged end thereof and means for feeding resin into the rearward zone of the chamber, (2) an elongated screw mounted within said chamber, (3) means for rotating said screw, (4) a first helical land mounted on a first and rearward section of said screw and pitched to compress and advance resin through the cham her, (5) a plurality of series of axially aligned scraper plates symmetrically disposed about a second and intermediate section of the screw, each of said series containing a plurality of scraper plates having narrow passage ways therebetween, each of said series being displaced in an axial direction from the adjacent series of scraper plates so that at least one scraper plate of each series is transversely aligned with the passage ways provided between scraper plates of the adjacent series, (6) a second helical land mounted on a third and forward section of the screw and pitched to compress and advance resin through the chamber, and (7) means for injecting liquid through the chamber wall surrounding the second and intermediate zone of the chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for injecting liquid through the chamber wallinclude (l) a fluid delivery nozzle whose face is substantially integral with the chamber wall, (2) an orifice in the face of said nozzle, and 3) means for sealing the orifice when liquid is not being injected into the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 which the means for injecting liquid through the chamber wall include (1) a fluid delivery nozzle Whose face is substantially integral with the chamber wall, (2) an orifice in the face of said nozzle, the feed inlet of said orifice terminating in a valve face, (3) a cooperatively functioning valve adapted to seat against and seal the valve face of the orifice, (4) a first fixed pressure means acting upon and urging the valve into seated relationship with the valve face, and (5) a second pressure means acting upon the valve and urging it out of seated relationship with the valve face, said second pressure means being responsive to and actuated by the pressure of the liquid within the injectioin means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which (1) the nozzle includes (a) a liquid chamber which communicates with the orifice and terminates i n a valve seat at the entrance of the orifice, (b) a liquid passage which communicates with the liquid chamber, (c) a valve body slideably mounted in said liquid chamber and adapted to seal the upper section thereof, ((1) a first frustroconical face carried by said valve body and extending into the liquid chamber, (e) a cylindrical extension of said valve body extending into the liquid chamber from the first frustroconical face, (f) a second frustroconical face carried by the cylindrical extension and adapted to seat against the valve face at the entrance of the orifice and (g) a cylindrical pin extending from the second frustroconical face 9 10 and adapted to seat in the orifice; (2) the first fixed pres- 2,928,130 3/60 Gray. sure means beat upon the valve body and urge it into its 2,987,774 6/ 61 Jacobson.

liquid sealing position; and (3) means are provided for 3,040,005 6/62 B nhardt at a], 18 12 introducing liquid into the liquid passage of the nozzle 3,121,130 2/64 Wilgy et 1 13 12 at a pressure in excess of the fixed pressure means which 5 bear upon the valve body. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 1G03469 11/51 France UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

2,668,325 2/54 Goodwin.

10 MICHAEL v. BRINDISI, Examiner. 2,848,739 8/58 Henning 18-12 

1. IN COMBINATION IN A SINGLE SCREW EXTRUDER, (1) AN ELONGATED, CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER HAVING ASSOCIATED THEREWITH A DIE AFFIXED TO THE DISCHARGED END THEREOF AND MEANS FOR FEEDING RESIN INTO THE REARWARD ZONE OF THE CHAMBER, (2) AN ELONGATED SCREW MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, (3) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SCREW, (4) A FIRST HELICAL LAND MOUNTED ON A FIRST AND REARWARD SECTION OF SAID SCREW AND PITCHED TO COMPRESS AND ADVANCE RESIN THROUGH THE CHAMBER, (5) A PLURALTIY OF SERIES OF AXIALLY ALIGNED SCRAPER PLATES SYMMETRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT A SECOND AND INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF THE SCREW, EACH OF SAID SERIES CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF SCRAPER PLATES HAVING NARROW PASSAGES WAYS THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID SERIES BEING DISPLACED IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION FROM THE ADJACENT SERIES OF SCRAPER PLATES SO THAT AT LEAST ONE SCRAPER PLATE OF EACH SERIES IS TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED WITH THE PASSAGES WAYS PROVIDED BETWEEN SCRAPER PLATES OF THE ADJACENT SERIES, (6) A SECOND HELICAL LAND MOUNTED ON A THIRD AND FORWARD SECTION OF THE SCREW AND PITCHED TO COMPRESS AND ADVANCE RESIN THROUGH THE CHAMBER, AND (7) MEANS FOR INJECTING LIQUID THROUGH THE CHAMBER WALL SURROUNDING THE SECOND AND INTERMEDIATE ZONE OF THE CHAMBER. 